Lambert forced to miss Dutch games
GLASGOW, Scotland (Reuters) -- Injured Celtic captain Paul Lambert has ruled himself out of Scotland's Euro 2004 qualifying playoff matches with the Netherlands later this month.
The 34-year-old midfielder has been sidelined since aggravating an ankle injury during Scotland's 2-1 defeat against Germany in September.
He said it was "unbelievably frustrating" and he would retire if underdogs Scotland did not overcome the Netherlands to reach next year's finals in Portugal.
Manager Berti Vogts did not expect his captain to be fit after an eight-week absence but his now certain absence is a big blow ahead of Friday's squad announcement.
Scotland, trying to reach their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup finals, play the first leg against the Dutch at Hampden Park on November 15 before travelling to Amsterdam for the second leg four days later.
Celtic have not said when they expect their player, who has collected 40 caps, to return.
"A complicated mix of ligament damage and bone bruising is making the Scotland captain's ankle quite difficult to treat - and preventing a full recovery," the club said.
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